THN - Who'll Stay? Who'll Go? A guide to your TML.

[Ianturnedbull]

https://thehockeynews.com/news/wholl-stay-and-wholl-go-looking-at-maple-leafs-bubble-players

Confirmed with link

Coming back for sure:

B Mcmann
C Dewar

Coming back but no guarantee:

M Domi
T Bertuzzi
D Kampf
J Edmundson

Very probably not coming back:

N Robertson
T Liljegren
C Timmins

Best Quote:


"It’s a measure of Liljegren’s fallen stock that, despite being a much-valued right-shot defenseman, he was a healthy scratch for one of Toronto’s playoff games against Boston. The 25-year-old Swede is scheduled to be an RFA this summer who’ll get a slight salary bump on the $1.4 million he made in 2023-24, but Liljegren is likely to be included in any trade for a better blueliner. On a true Stanley Cup contender, Liljegren is a third-pair option, and Toronto has more than enough of those types of D-men on the roster. His time as a Leaf is probably done."

Click to read more...

 

[ToneDog]

Was excited when we drafted Lily after reading all the bullish posts on him. But after seeing him play I keep asking myself how the f*** does Mark Hunter pick this guy over a local boy who played for his London Knights?

 

[TheTotalPackage]

Both Robertson and Liljegren not coming back would just add to the lengthy list of talented Maple Leafs draftees over the decades who came with hype, but never delivered or developed properly.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Take these names with a grain of salt. Hard to imagine they would move on from Robertson and Liljegren in one offseason. Same goes for Bert and Domi. It's likely one of them will be a leaf.

 

[wingman75]

Take these names with a grain of salt. Hard to imagine they would move on from Robertson and Liljegren in one offseason. Same goes for Bert and Domi. It's likely one of them will be a leaf.

Agreed, large full salt blocks should be licked here.

A part of this story will obviously depend on who else is out there; who they bring in that make those guys dispensable. We need some guys on low cost contracts in Marner sticks around. Next year is when we get our cap freedom, well, as much as we are going to get.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Both Robertson and Liljegren not coming back would just add to the lengthy list of talented Maple Leafs draftees over the decades who came with hype, but never delivered or developed properly.

I think he has a higher ceiling and more room to grow but one of them is gone, and probably it’s Robertson. Even if/when Mitch goes, that still leaves the now Big 2.5, Jarnkrok, McMann, Knies and one of Domi/Bertuzzi, I’d choose Domi. Possibly another forward if Mitch goes in a hockey trade.

Jarnkrok is more rounded and on a competitive deal, McMann is basically Nicky Bobby but much bigger and a better skater, Knies is basically McMann, but six years younger and much better vision, more physical and a 50-60 point ceiling.

I’d like to keep him but it’s a position of strength to have him.

For the right player obviously I’d give Lily a chance at a modest raise but he’s got to put it together.

Timmins is too inconsistent. Some nights he looks like a God but he can’t handle the game at speed and physical and so gets crushed, especially in the corners and makes mistakes. Liljegren makes mistakes too, they’re the same age but he isn’t nearly as catastrophic defensively.

Marner, Bertuzzi, Robertson, Timmins and the rest of the UFA gone, keep Dewar, Domi, Edmundson and maybe Gregor.

 

[rumman]

Agreed, large full salt blocks should be licked here.

A part of this story will obviously depend on who else is out there; who they bring in that make those guys dispensable. We need some guys on low cost contracts in Marner sticks around. Next year is when we get our cap freedom, well, as much as we are going to get.

Then I hope no one is extended beyond a one year deal……….

 

[rumman]

I think he has a higher ceiling and more room to grow but one of them is gone, and probably it’s Robertson. Even if/when Mitch goes, that still leaves the now Big 2.5, Jarnkrok, McMann, Knies and one of Domi/Bertuzzi, I’d choose Domi. Possibly another forward if Mitch goes.

Jarnkrok is more rounded and on a competitive deal, McMann is basically Nicky Bobby but much bigger and a better skater, Knies is basically McMann, but six years younger and much better vision, more physical and a 50-60 point ceiling.

I’d like to keep him but it’s a position of strength to have him.

For the right player obviously I’d give Lily a chance at a modest raise but he’s got to put it together.

Timmins is too inconsistent. Some nights he looks like a God but he can’t handle the game at speed and physical and so gets crushed, especially in the corners and makes mistakes. Liljegren makes mistakes too, they’re the same age but he isn’t nearly as catastrophic defensively.

Marner, Bertuzzi, Robertson, Timmins and the rest of the UFA gone, keep Dewar, Edmundson and maybe Gregor.

I don’t get the love for Gregor, yes he can skate like the wind, but I see little else of value, perhaps he can be traded to the Ice Capades for a bag of pucks…….

 

[DitchMarner]

Why don't they give Robertson an increased role?

He does have talent and his scoring relative to ice time is solid... but he can't seem to secure a permanent top six scoring role. He was quite disappointing in the playoffs. If they do move on from him, I want a good return.

As for Lily: it looks like he is what he is at this point. I've been waiting a long time for him to come into his own. It feels like he's been around for ages. He's an NHLer but not a particularly good one. I think he may carve out a Luke Schenn type of career for himself as a guy who can be decent to solid in a bottom-pairing role.

 

[Fogelhund]

It's interesting for discussion, but no more informed than any poster here.

 

[ACC1224]

It's interesting for discussion, but no more informed than any poster here.

I don't know about 'any'.

 

[TMLegend]

I think it'll be a mistake if they move off of Robertson prematurely.

While he definitely has warts to his game and his defensive detail is laughably bad at times he showed he can at minimum be a depth scorer going forward for the team. He really feels like one of those guys if we let him go he'll go on to score 30+ with another team in a bigger role.

Couldn't care less if I see Liljegren or Timmins in a Leaf uniform again.

 

[Fogelhund]

I don’t get the love for Gregor, yes he can skate like the wind, but I see little else of value, perhaps he can be traded to the Ice Capades for a bag of pucks…….

Cheap depth, who can PK, and has is responsible enough for a lot of dzone starts.. plays physical.

I don't think there is any real love for him, he's a replacement level player. We can't get rid of all the PK guys, without replacing them. Having speed in the lineup, is an asset as well... we need to get faster, not slower.

What is your expectations for a 4th line, league minimum player, and who do you replace him with?

 

[Lightsol]

I think you'll see improvement from Timmy now that Keefe is gone, assuming Berube uses him and lets him grow. One of the reasons we're still waiting for him to hit his potential and not act jittery is the regularity with which Keefe would pressbox him if he made any mistakes at all... While allowing tons of mistakes from the veterans he favored. It's obvious that Timmy plays with a bit of fear thanks to that, and it's never good for a player to be thinking "Oh, God, I'd better not screw this up or I'll be out again..."

It's the primary reason I think the Leafs failed to decently integrate any rookies during the Keefe years; Keefe had all the rookies on an insanely short leash (only real exception is Knies, and I suspect that was a demand from above).

 

[Voodoo Child]

I don’t get the love for Gregor, yes he can skate like the wind, but I see little else of value, perhaps he can be traded to the Ice Capades for a bag of pucks…….

Cheap, league min depth, or the Marlies, not every game. Basically what @Fogelhund said, not gonna kill the leafs giving him 950k.

 

[57 Years No Cup]

Talk about ignoring the elephant in the room....

 

[RunItBackAgain]

I'm not a big Robertson supporter but I wouldn't let him go yet unless it's in a hockey trade for a similarly aged player in the same kind of situation. Maybe a F for D swap.

I've seen all I need to see from Lilly. He is Sandin 2.0 for me. Thanks for your service but you won't be missed.

 

[francis246]

Was excited when we drafted Lily after reading all the bullish posts on him. But after seeing him play I keep asking myself how the f*** does Mark Hunter pick this guy over a local boy who played for his London Knights?

It was the one time the organizational need and BPA aligned. RHD who was ranked higher and dropped.

 

[rumman]

Cheap depth, who can PK, and has is responsible enough for a lot of dzone starts.. plays physical.

I don't think there is any real love for him, he's a replacement level player. We can't get rid of all the PK guys, without replacing them. Having speed in the lineup, is an asset as well... we need to get faster, not slower.

What is your expectations for a 4th line, league minimum player, and who do you replace him with?

if half the cap didn't go to four forwards there would be no need for league minimum players like Gregor because better options would exist...........

I'm not a big Robertson supporter but I wouldn't let him go yet unless it's in a hockey trade for a similarly aged player in the same kind of situation. Maybe a F for D swap.

I've seen all I need to see from Lilly. He is Sandin 2.0 for me. Thanks for your service but you won't be missed.

Robertson might thrive under Berube, that can't be said about several other Leaf players............

 

[Ianturnedbull]

"Treliving is likely to send him packing for a low draft pick that frees up his cap space. Timmins just isn’t good enough in his own end to justify another season with the Buds, and the only question now is if he begins the year as a healthy scratch, an American Leaguer or on another team."

I would add a 4th option: Finnish Elite League

if half the cap didn't go to four forwards there would be no need for league minimum players like Gregor because better options would exist...........


Robertson might thrive under Berube, that can't be said about several other Leaf players............

Agreed.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

I'd be surprised if Robertson isn't coming back. Cheap reliable bottom 6 scoring is in short supply on our team.

 

[robertmac43]

Robertson feels like someone we should be trying to keep more. He is going to be cost-effective and likely hits 20 goals next year.

 

[Fogelhund]

if half the cap didn't go to four forwards there would be no need for league minimum players like Gregor because better options would exist...........

Ah... the uniformed, I'm mad at the core 4 post. Hint... Every other team in the league, including those still in the playoffs, are running with league minimum players on the bottom line.

If half the cap didn't go to four forwards, it would go to the D, or middle six forwards, and we'd still run with some league minimum players, like every other team in the NHL does.

 

[rumman]

Ah... the uniformed, I'm mad at the core 4 post. Hint... Every other team in the league, including those still in the playoffs, are running with league minimum players on the bottom line.

If half the cap didn't go to four forwards, it would go to the D, or middle six forwards, and we'd still run with some league minimum players, like every other team in the NHL does.

sorry you didn't like my answer, how giving Robertson a legitimate shot instead of sporadic play?

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Very probably not coming back:

Mitch Marner